The increases in salaries and allowances for
Legislative Council members will cost approximately $30 million a year. No provision has been included in the draft Estimates to meet the cost of this proposal estimated at $15 million in
1991-92.
26
The proposal may also have implications for civil service salaries. Any decision that may be taken to restrict the civil service pay award to below the rate of inflation, as part of an overall anti-inflationary strategy, might jeopardised by this proposal which would be very unpopular with a civil service which was being asked to tighten its belt.
be
PUBLIC CONSULTATION
27
The need to provide adequate resources for Legislative Councillors was raised by Mr. Martin LEE and Mr. Jimmy McGREGOR during the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the Governor's policy address to the Legislative Council in October 1990. public has not however been consulted on the proposals.
The
PUBLIC REACTION
28
considerable
the
move
and elsewhere.
show
The media and the general public will
interest in the proposals. Some will recognise as а positive step to encourage more capable legislators, which should facilitate the development of professional representative government as in Western countries Political groups and candidates intending to run in the 1991 election will mostly strongly welcome the proposals. There may however be some underlying cynicism about giving such a level of public reward to politicians, or some desire to maintain the present, more public spirit-based, system.
29
The significant
increase of remuneration to Legislative Council members without corresponding adjustments to members of the other tiers of government against the current climate of austerity is bound to draw criticism from the latter which may be reflected in the media. The district boards in particular will
regard this as further evidence of their lowered status, in addition to their perception 'drastic' cuts in CNTA's budget.
of recent
CONFIDENTIAL